Anderson police arrested a 16-year-old boy Tuesday morning after he allegedly robbed a 21-year-old man at gunpoint and then fired shots at him during a foot chase, leaving the man unharmed but shaken just after 8 a.m. in a residential stretch of the city's north side.
Officers responded to reports of gunfire at 8:05 a.m. in the 2400 block of Poplar Street, according to wishtv.com. The 21-year-old man told police the teenager had stolen cash from his home and then run off, prompting the man to chase after him. As Fox 59 reported, the Anderson Police Department was responding to reports of a person being shot when officers converged on the block.
During that pursuit, police said, the teen allegedly turned, pointed a handgun at the man, and fired several rounds in his direction. The gunfire did not strike the victim, and he was not injured, per the same wishtv.com account. Police later located the 16-year-old and took him into custody without further incident.
Teen Faces Felony Charges, Investigation Continues
The teenager was transported to the Madison County Juvenile Detention Center following his arrest. Police said he faces felony charges related to both the robbery and the shooting, though the exact charges had not been released as of Tuesday afternoon. No other details were released as the investigation continued, the station's report notes.
The case echoes another Anderson robbery earlier this year that also involved juveniles and gunfire. On January 4, three people were arrested after an attempted robbery in broad daylight, when Anderson police responded to 712 Lonsvale Drive after four suspects allegedly kicked in a back door of a home, according to the same outlet's earlier coverage. Someone inside that home shot and wounded one of the intruders, who received medical treatment, and police later located three of the four suspects after they fled. An adult, Julieon Fuller, and two juveniles ages 14 and 17 were ultimately charged with Level 1 felony burglary in that incident.
How Indiana Handles Juvenile Felony Cases
Whether a 16-year-old accused of a serious felony ends up facing charges in juvenile or adult court depends on specific statutory triggers under Indiana law. According to a report from the Indiana General Assembly, juvenile courts lack jurisdiction over individuals at least 16 years old who have committed certain felonies listed under state law, meaning some older teens can be routed directly into the adult system depending on the offense. That report does not address whether the 16-year-old arrested Tuesday will be prosecuted as an adult, and no such determination has been announced in this case.
For now, the Anderson Police Department has not released the teen's name or additional information about the weapon involved, and it remains unclear whether officers recovered a firearm. The investigation remains active, and authorities have not said when further charging details might be made public.
